ALBANY COUNTY — The COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the former Lord & Taylor in Crossgates Mall is among the state sites Governor Andrew Cuomo said today would be added to the “Vax and Scratch” program.

Any New Yorker 18 and over who gets vaccinated there will be given a free state lottery scratch-off ticket with a grand prize of $5 million.  There are 13 levels of prizes, the lowest being for $20.

The participating sites will be open from Monday, May 31, through June 4. All sites will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Albany County is continuing with its own incentives for vaccination. Stewart’s Shops have contributed free ice-cream cones, Dunkin’ has contributed coupons, and the FireWolves is giving youth who get vaccinated free tickets to their first lacrosse game

Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy said at his Friday morning press briefing that people who were vaccinated earlier are mad, saying, “I didn’t get anything.” He commended them for doing the right thing.

“Our numbers are getting better,” said McCoy of declining infection and hospitalization rates. “We just need people to go out and get the vaccine.”

According to the state’s vaccine tracker, as of Friday evening, 61.5 percent of Albany County’s 307,117 residents had received at least one dose of vaccine as had 72.4 percent of county residents 18 or older.

Statewide, 53.0 percent of New Yorkers have received at least one dose as have 64.7 percent of New Yorkers 18 or older. Statewide, 45.1 percent of New Yorkers have completed a vaccine series.

“Our numbers are good,” said Albany County Health Commissioner Elizabeth Whalen on Friday morning, citing the figure of over 70 percent vaccination for county residents 18 and older.

However, she also noted the number of residents attending the large points of dispensing or PODs run by the county has greatly decreased; this week, just 12 doses were administered at the county’s POD.

The county has shifted its focus to community-based PODs and has so far conducted 27, administering 4,677 doses, Whalen said.

Also, the health department offices on Green Street in Albany are on Day 38 of giving vaccines to walk-ins and have administered 569 doses so far.

“As much as I’d like to say we’re almost across the finish line, I tend to be a little more skeptical,” said Whalen.

Looking at other countries without as high a rate of vaccination as the United States, she said, “There’s a lot more disease, there’s a lot more hospitalization, and there’s a lot more deaths. This is a strong indication that the vaccines are working, that what we are doing is working,” Whalen said.

For those who decided to “wait and see,” she said, “I think at this point we can safely say that everyone who has been vaccinated has done well.”

Whalen also spoke of the many messages of thanks her department has received and how people who have been vaccinated are “now breathing a sigh of relief and feeling that they can resume the essential functions of life, of being with their loved ones, of being particularly with grandchildren.”

Beaches open

Thompsons Lake campground in the Helderbergs is among the state sites opening for Memorial Day weekend. Twenty-two beaches, pools and spraygrounds are opening at normal capacity.

Unvaccinated visitors should wear a face covering when unable to maintain social distance outdoors and, for the safety of park staff, all visitors are required to wear a face covering inside park buildings.

Visitors are reminded by the state’s Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation “to practice social distancing, respect the rules, and do their part to keep parks and beaches open and safe for everyone.”

Reservations are required for campgrounds. To find a last minute reservation, visit the “Camping This Weekend” feature on the reservation website: https://newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com/.

Newest numbers

McCoy announced nine new cases of COVID-19, bringing the county’s tally to 24,314 to date.

Of the new cases, four had close contact with someone infected with the disease, four did not have clear sources of infection identified, and one had traveled out of state.

The five-day average for new daily positives decreased from 13.4 to 12.6. There are now 101 active cases in the county, up from 100 on Thursday.

The number of Albany County residents under quarantine decreased to 267 from 292. So far, 79,399 residents have completed quarantine. Of those, 24,213 had tested positive and recovered. That is an increase of nine recoveries since Thursday.

There were two new hospitalizations overnight, and 10 county residents are now hospitalized from the virus. There are currently three patients in intensive-care units, unchanged from Thursday.

Albany County’s COVID-19 death toll remains at 380.

According to the state’s dashboard, Albany County’s infection rate, as of Thursday as a seven-day rolling average, was 1.1 percent.

Statewide, the infection rate, also as of Thursday as a seven-day rolling average, was 0.8 percent.